Waikato River Water Quality

Facts about Waikato River Water Quality

• Waikato River water is classed as excellent at its source, Lake Taupo.
  
• Between Lake Taupo and Lake Ohakuri (the first hydro dam on the River), the character of the River water changes dramatically – sediment, nutrient and mineral levels increase considerably.
  
• Eight hydro dams are dotted along the 125 km middle reach of the River. Nuisance aquatic plants and phytoplankton growth occur because water is held in the hydro lakes.
  
• The Waikato River has unusual chemistry because of the volcanic origin and geothermal activity at its source in the Central Volcanic Plateau – chloride and sodium concentrations at Ohakuri are higher than most other rivers in New Zealand and around the world.
  
• Compared with other New Zealand rivers, the lower Waikato River is nutrient-enriched.

How Clean is the Waikato River?